An 11½' inch Tumbadora made in 1973, a 10¼' inch Tres Dos made in 1981 and a 9' inch Quinto made for me in 1994. The 10¼' Tres Dos was originally stained black, as Junior sometimes used stave's where the colors of the wood didn't match and he would stain the wood so the "off colors" wouldn't show. (As he also did with the Bongoes he made below)I took it to 'Jay Bereck' and had him remove the black stain and re-finish the drum, which allowed the true beauty of the Mahogany wood to show.

Made of Cedar wood (Cedro). With a 10½ inch head.The lug plates look like stars with six points.The original bands were replaced with "brushed" aluminum bands.

Bongoes made of Mahogany by Natalio "Junior" Tirado Ruiz.

These were originally "painted" red not stained, to conceal the different color stave's he used. I used paint remover to take the red off, then sanded them and gave them a very light coat of wood sealer.7½ inch Macho and 8½' inch Hembra.

These are my favorite bongoes, made in Cuba in the early to mid 1950's by drum maker and bongocero Candido Requena. Made of Cedar (Cedro). 6¼' Macho and 7' inch Hembra.I recently sent them to master drum maker 'Matthew Smith' to have them re-finished.

I prefer to use only natural or white (bleached) "Cow" skin, which is impossible to find here in New York City.

I prefer the sound of "Cow" skin, very different than Mule. I don't like skin that you can see your hand through (opaque skin). The majority of skins (hides) sold commercially now are mostly inferior bull hide, steer hide, deer hide, horse hide, mule hide, and the cheap shitty "honey colored" skin (that you can read a newspaper through) that comes on every drum made by *Lp®.(*Don't "trust the leader")

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Justi Barreto, composer, singer, percussionist. "The Man"Born 14 November 1923, Havana, Cuba. Living in the US. for many years.Creator of the "Batanga"Between himself and his half brother: 'Silvestre Mendez'... the amount of compositions are endless. Just about everybody who is anybody has recorded Justi Barreto compositions.Especially Beny Moré.Sometime listen to Arsenio Rodriguez singing "Lo Que Dice Justi".Many people are familiar with the two LPs: "Guaguanco 69" and "Comparsas Cubanas"(on 'Gema'), this LP is out of print, never reissued and rare.Recorded when he lived in Mexico. Big band.

'Tipica Union Sanluisera'from the town of San Luis, in Santiago De Cuba.With a unique swing typically from there.All three LP's recorded in Egrem's Siboney studios in Santiago De Cuba."San Luis" their first LP. Late 70's early 80's."Un meneito Sabroso" mid to late 80's."La Leyenda de la Charanga" 1987
"Homenaje A Beny" 1987All four LP's... long out of print.

Four LP's by the late master Violinist Pedro Celestino Depestre.Another great band that was from Santiago De Cuba, with a sound unique to that part of the island.Pedro Celestino Depestre started playing violin at the age of five. As a 13 year old violin prodigy he joined Orq. Aragón in 1959 in order to replace his predecessor (his father) Filiberto Depestre. He formed his 'Orq. Tipica Juventud' in 1972.

The LP "Lo Mismo Bailo Un Son" is LIVE (en vivo) and is a killer with some amazing bass playing. The LP "Presencia Cubana" is a studio recording, also a killer.Both done between '72 & '74.Swinging "Onda Nueva" 1970's style Charanga.His last CD "*Son Charangas y Pasiones" came out in 1999 and really showed his violin virtuosity... and his composing and arranging skills.Pedro Depestre collapsed an died onstage after taking a solo at a concert in Basel, Switzerland in 2001.He was 55 years old.

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Welcome to Fidels Eyeglasses!

Cuban LP's and recordings which include particular "styles" and "forms" of (playing & singing) "Cuban" music that unfortunately have become, or are on their way to becoming lost art forms.As well as related materiel which may not be "directly" from Cuba.

Mostly LP's that are either long out of print and-or obscure and music from "my own personal collection".

Occasionally some Brasilian things will be added that are hard to find, even on the other great Brasilian blogs, many that are listed in my Blog links.And maybe some things that have nothing to do with Cuban or Brasilian music.

It takes time to do all this, scanning the covers, resizing and uploading, often changing & correcting the info.

****NOTE: DIVSHARE HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS WHICH MEANS MANY HUNDREDS OF SOUND FILES ON THIS BLOG WHICH TOOK 6 YEARS TO COMPILE ARE DEAD, SOME ARE STILL PLAYABLE, BUT UNTIL I FIND A NEW SOUND FILE HOST SERVICE, MANY WON'T PLAY.

About Me

Professional musician / percussionist.
Living, working and teaching in Manhattan, N.Y.C., U.S.A.
Born and raised in Manhattan, N.Y.C.
Lived in New Orleans from 1972 to 1986.
Produced and hosted the first Cuban music radio program in New Orleans on WWOZ from 1980-1986.
Been back in N.Y.C. 28 years and planing on getting the hell out very soon.